Portage

Ferdi Nelissen, Garth Asham, and their teammates were recently inducted into the Manitoba Softball Hall of Fame as members of two dominant squads: the 1983–85 Winnipeg Internationals and the 1987–89 Winnipeg Ashams. The recognition wasn’t just for individual feats, but for what they accomplished as a unit—winning provincial championships, representing Manitoba at nationals, and competing at ISC World Tournaments.

Nelissen brings the sport to life and makes you want to join a fastball team to garner memories, as he explains how that the honour meant more because it was shared. 

A recent provincial survey has revealed widespread mineral shortfalls in pasture forages across Manitoba. That's from Shawn Cabak, Livestock and Forage Specialist with the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC).

He notes the 2024 study, conducted by Manitoba Agriculture, examined a variety of grazing systems and forage types between late August and mid-September.

Copper and zinc levels were consistently low in forages across nearly all surveyed pastures.

Portage la Prairie youth exploring skilled trades careers encounter a landscape rich with opportunity but marked by systemic challenges, according to local business, education, and training leaders.

Interviews with Meghan Shewfelt of Shewfelt's Plumbing and Heating, Guy Moffat of Red River College Polytech Portage, and Jason Green of the Portage la Prairie School Division reveal common themes of registration delays, training bottlenecks, and the critical need for proactive student engagement, alongside strong local potential.

Portage la Prairie youth have access to new opportunities this summer through the Manitoba Youth Job Centre’s local services.

The program helps young people gain employment skills and first work experience, making it easier to find jobs now and down the road.

Helping youth prepare for the workforce

Anna Nikkel, Youth Engagement Leader based out of Morden, serves Portage la Prairie and surrounding communities.

She notes the program runs from May to August and provides assistance with resumes, cover letters, mock interviews, and job searching.

The wind-up of the school year has seen schools getting their students outdoors for sports days, with some occurring last week. 

Yellowquill School Physical Educator Nathaniel Guiboche works with students from Kindergarten to Grade 4, and and says h's excited to see all the kids enjoying the activities he set up outside.

The Canadian Meat Council is warning that the Liberal government’s legislation to ease the movement of goods and services within Canada could actually undermine red meat exports.

Lauren Martin, senior director of public affairs for the organization, says the bill is raising questions about whether it could lead the federal government to recognize provincial rules for inspecting meat processing facilities as equal to federal standards.

Despite a rainy forecast, the 120th Annual Treherne AG Fair went ahead full steam, drawing in families from across the region for a weekend full of indoor fun, classic community events, and heartfelt celebration. 

UPDATE: 4 p.m. June 24th:

Both drivers received precautionary examinations by EMS crews, but no injuries were reported for either driver involved.

Crews cleared the scene at around 1:15 p.m.

At approximately 12:55 p.m. today (June 24th), fire, RCMP, and ambulance crews were called to the scene of a collision located at the corner of Saskatchewan Ave West and 25th Street in Portage la Prairie.

The collision involved two pickup trucks, one of which was observed missing a tire from its front axle and had its airbags deployed.

A teenage boy was rushed to hospital in critical condition after a utility task vehicle (UTV) collided with a semi-truck late Monday morning in the RM of Treherne.

RCMP say the crash happened just after 11 a.m. on June 23 along Highway 244 near Road 41 North. When officers arrived, they found the semi pulled over on the northbound shoulder and the UTV in the west-side ditch.

Southern Health is urging families to check their immunization records as measles cases continue to surge across the region.

Dr. Mahmoud Khodaveisi, Medical Officer of Health for Southern Health-Santé Sud, spoke with PortageOnline on Friday and says the outbreak is concentrated in the southern part of the province.

“Since the beginning of this year, 113 cases as of June 14th reported in Manitoba,” notes Khodaveisi. “This is an underestimate of the real number of cases.”